Play the Gruenfeld

  • Edition: Paperback
  • Author: Yelena Dembo
  • Skill Range: All levels
  • Publisher: Everyman Chess
  • Year Published: 2007
  • # of Pages: 192 pages
  • ISBN: 9781857445213
Description:

The Grünfeld is an exciting and dynamic answer to 1 d4, and has become very popular at all levels of chess. A major reason for this is that it has been a long-time favourite of the World's strongest-ever chess player, Garry Kasparov, who used it many times in his numerous World Championship battles. The Grünfeld very much relies on the principles of the hypermodern school of chess: Black allows White to erect an impressive-looking centre on the assumption that in the long run it could prove to be more of a liability than an asset. Play often becomes very complex and tactical, one of the reasons the Grünfeld appeals to ambitious players.

Despite its attractions, some prospective Grünfeld players are discouraged by the necessity of needing to learn numerous different variations in such a complex opening. In Play the Grünfeld, however, opening expert Yelena Dembo circumvents this problem by producing a comprehensive and yet workable repertoire for Black, offering a solution against each of White's tries, whether it's a critical main line or a tricky sideline. After reading this book, you will have the required knowledge and confidence to begin playing the Grünfeld in your own games.

  • Written by a renowned Grünfeld expert
  • Covers all of White's main tries
  • Reveals the tactical and positional ideas for both sides

Contents

Part One - The Exchange Variation (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 N c3 d5 4 cxd5 N xd5 5 e4 Nxc3 6 bxc3 Bg7)

1 Introducing 7 Nf3 c5

3 Be3 Systems

4 The Fashionable 7 Bc4

5 White's 7th Move Alternatives

6 4 cxd5 Nxd5 without 5 e4

Part Two - 3 Nc3 Without The Exchange

7 The Russian System

8 Qa4+ Systems

9 Bf4 Systems

10 Bg5 Systems

11 The Solid 4 e3

12 Offbeat 4th Move Alternatives

Part Three - White Postpones Nc3

13 The Fianchetto System

14 Angling for a Sämisch: 3 f3

Index of variations

Reviews:

by erik - 2 years ago
Mountain View, CA United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 9923
go Yelena!
by Phobetor - 2 years ago
Eindhoven Netherlands
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 1200

Rating:+++--

Now that's an informational review you wrote there Erik! That really convinced me to buy this book! Tongue out (I actually didn't buy this one but bought the Grunfeld classic "Understanding the Grunfeld" Smile)
by Chessman22 - 2 years ago
Los Angeles, CA United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 152
Logical.
by amntony - 2 years ago
GuangDong, Jiang Men City China
Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 130

In fact, the 7.Bc4 classical exchange continues like this: 7... 0-0  8.Ne2 c5 (piling on the d4 pawn)Embarassed  9.Be3 Nc6 (again!)  10.0-0 Bg4 (trys to take the Knight off its protecting the d4-pawn) 11.f3 (unpin the Knight at e2) Na5 (goes around the centered pawn, trying to get a firm-hold at c4!  This is in accordance with the Nimzowitsch hyper-modern theory.  Knight should try to get a firm hold at the center or the "outer-center"! )

Anthony

by Puppaz - 2 years ago
UK United Kingdom
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 528
by tanmay_chakrabarti - 2 years ago
Uttarpara India
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 997

Rating:++++-

Thanks for your book on this topic alone.
by anatolymolotov - 2 years ago
Grimsby, NE Lincs United Kingdom
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 5

A sound opening book strategy - but not for the beginner or the faint of heart.  The Grunfeld is a highly tactical game and unless you are playing black the position of whites pieces is static - black would have to be inexperienced in order for white to prevail.  What makes this strategy yet more intense is the number of variations and the consequences of move order.

 On the plus side one mistake from either player can cause a calamitous change of advantage so I would advise the reader to learn the basics before trying such a professional approach to chess.  The amount of foresight needed to play this tactical game and concentration level is exhausting.  One of my favourite openings all the same.


by Redwall - 2 years ago
Uppsala Sweden
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 288

Rating:++++-

iv read half the bock, using 3 chesbords, testing and memorising moves, I´ll rekomend it for experienst players (1400+) Iv lernd loads!
by WGM YelenaDembo - 2 years ago
Athens Greece
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 190

Hello everyone!

Here is the review of Jeremy Silman!

http://www.jeremysilman.com/book_reviews_js/Play_the_Grunfeld.html

Enjoy!


by kenttt_leung - 2 years ago
United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 33
i own play the grunfeld it is my favorite book. i like angling the samish chapter. the best.goood job yelena.
by sabir_bedul - 2 years ago
Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 5

where i want buy this book at Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia?

i'm begging to all the user.......


by Sprite - 2 years ago
Washington, D.C. area United States
Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 406
Sabir, your best bet is to purchase it online.
by WesHarwell - 23 months ago
Memphis,TN United States
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 7

Still working my way through it, but i'd completely agree with Silman's Review of the book and recommend it to others.  Yelena's enthuiasm for the opening is clear and makes it a fun read!

Try it out!

by MHORDZ_0624 - 21 months ago
philippines Philippines
Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 3
how can i purchase it online
by assasinator - 19 months ago
auckland city New Zealand
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 35
cool!! how do we purchase it on line??
by pindol_91 - 18 months ago
Toronto Canada
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 43
how to shop and purchase this book?
by Chessman1073 - 17 months ago
California United States
Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 21

I think the Grunfeld will help out anyone. And for anyone looking to buy this book you can find it on Amazon.com.


by edwardward - 12 months ago
LEXINGTON, KY United States
Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 6

Rating:+++++

this is one of the best  books on this defense.play all variations and then decide on one of them.see if you can defend against white alot easier.a must read if you struggle against white.Wink

by exigentsky - 12 months ago
CA United States
Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 376

Rating:+++++

This is an excellent book with plenty of new ideas to put main-line White players off-balance. Recommended!

by Crazyaboutchess - 12 months ago
Great Britain
Member Since: Nov 2008
Member Points: 1

An excellent read - easily understood and applicable! I would recommend buying it at Chess4less.com - they offer free books worth up to $10 when buying it and they offer a wide variety on that, too!

by kosmeg - 9 months ago
Lamia Greece
Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 526

Rating:++++-

Quite well-written and really instructive

by TwoMove - 8 months ago
High Wycombe, Leeds or Bodmin England
Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 3369

Rating:+++++

A lot of the lines recommended in book which were side-lines, are being played more and more by the elite players. For example the Na5 line in classical exchange varation played in recent Topalov v Kamsky match. This shows the ideas, and analysis good quality. Also very useful to get the e-book to blend in with other lines if have chessbase.

by scut_fargus - 7 months ago
On the lunatic fringe of society United States
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 1043

Where can I find this book?

You can buy the book by scrolling to the top of the page. It must be true what they say about chess and cannabis.

by pleasant - 4 months ago
leyden, ma United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 12

Rating:+++++

[ms. Dembo posted this link some time ago:

"Here is the review of Jeremy Silman!

"

- which is how i found Silman' review - i'm gratified that he and i mostly agree [he with much greater authority, of course!]

on the matter of the bibliography, Silman writes in his review:

 

"I loved her bibliography since instead of just listing her references, she tells you what's good about each one. This allows the reader to make an intelligent decision about what other books to buy if they wish to build up a library on this opening. Not surprisingly, she was particularly high on Rowson's UNDERSTANDING THE GRUNFELD (a magnificent book that strives to live up to its title by teaching the reader the ins and outs of this complex system), KING'S INDIAN & GRUNFELD FIANCHETTO LINES by Janigava (THE book on g3 vs. these openings), CHALLENGING THE GRUNFELD by Dearing (a must own if you play either side of the 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 system), and AN EXPERT'S GUIDE to the 7.Bc4 GRUENFELD by Sakaev (one of the best opening books ever written). All comments about these books are mine, though they aren't too far from Ms. Dembo's."

I, myself, especially want to underline the comment on Sakaev's book - which is a judgement with a pretty broad consensus - including Dembo and Silman [I bought it because of that.], but it is a remarkable achievement and instructive even to one who, like me, is far from being able to use it in my day-to-day study/play of chess.

by hem_singh_sen - 3 months ago
mandi (himachal) India
Member Since: Jul 2009
Member Points: 254

Rating:+----

a good book for intermediate chess players who wish to enhance their grip over the game by playing with understanding.

by Ramley - 16 days ago
Philippines
Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 12

Every time i'm studying the book of Ms. Yelena Dembo on Gruenfeld, i felt inspired...she supposed to put her picture at least at the back cover or  inside...but more than that...the book is so simple and friendly,  logical ,effective with sublime tactical hints....Smile


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